Shadow of the Silk Road

by
Thubron, Colin

Plot/Summary:
As Colin Thubron traveled the Silk Road from central China
to the coast of Turkey, he looked for its shadow in the
people and places along the way. Throughout his trip,
Thubron crosses country borders created by superpowers,
regardless of ethnicity or shared history. He finds the
ruins of past empires that reflect borrowing between the
East and West. Thubron listens to the life stories of the
individuals he meets, discovering a diverse range of hopes
and beliefs.

Comments:
Thubron takes the armchair traveler on a magic carpet ride
in Shadow of the Silk Road. He alternates the
narration of his journey with historical stories about the
places he visits. Seemingly fearless in meeting the
challenges of the regions he traverses, the author also
appears to have a knack for social intercourse regardless
of nationality. Helpful maps are included for those who
need to visually follow his journey. Shadow of the Silk
Road was named one of the best-selling books of travel
literature in July 2009 by the IndieBound Community of
independent booksellers.